Remembrances of Pastor Don F. Thomas
September 21, 1995

The following are excerpts of a conversation between Ralph Heiden and Pastor Don F. Thomas of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church who has known and served many members of the Heiden family for over 30 years:

Ralph: You have been associated with this church for a long time. How did it all get started?

Pastor Thomas: I came here to be Pastor of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Ida after doing graduate work at Princeton Theologic Seminary in the area of Christian education. I got a Master’s of Sacred Theology and Christian Education. My intent was to get my doctorate and teach at one of our church colleges or seminaries. But the rule of the American Lutheran Church, which we were at that time, was that you had to serve three years in a parish ministry before you could teach at the college level.

So, I thought I would get those three years out of the way and then go back to teach. Having received a scholarship from Michigan District of the old A.L.C., I had to take a call in the Michigan District and that first call was to St. Mark’s. Little did I know that I would meet my wife there and stay here for ever and ever.

Ralph: You have known the Heiden family for a long time starting back with my grandparents, William Carl and Mary.

Pastor Thomas: I really did not get to know your grandma because she died in 1963 before the merger of the two congregations. If I’m not mistaken, she was buried by Pastor Leroy Beck.

After the merger, of course, I became your grandfather’s pastor and called on him regularly, every month. The thing that I remember specifically about your grandpa was his amazing ability to remember things from long ago especially his catechism which he learned in German. He would often recite part of it to me in German.

I can remember him lying on that couch in that little sun room on the side of the house. The hymns that he was able to remember and the catechism he remembered simply amazed me especially as a very young pastor at the time.

The second thing I remember about him is that I always made his call the last one in the afternoon because he would insist that I have a bottle of beer with him and play a game or two of cribbage. I felt that I couldn’t make any more calls that day after sharing a beer with him. So he was always the last call.

I also remember gathering with the family sometimes in the evening with Jeane and Helen who were living there at the time and we would play cards.

Ralph: Do you remember Grandpa talking about his parents or the earlier generations of Heidens?

Pastor Thomas: No. He talked more specifically about his friend Bill Cominess and how they would skate across the River Raisin to see each other. I don’t recall him talking about his parents at all but, then, we are talking about things that happened thirty years ago.

Ralph: One of the sad things about this research has been the fact that people of earlier generations did not seem to talk to their older relatives to find out why they came here or about their history.

Pastor Thomas: They just simply did not do that type of thing back then, I think. I recall writing your grandfather’s funeral sermon on the plane coming back from Minneapolis.

Ralph: Yes, I have a copy and it will appear in the report.

Pastor Thomas: I didn’t realize people kept those things.

Ralph: Yes, I have seen several copies in different people’s files.

Pastor Thomas: Pastor Beck may still have your grandmother’s sermon. I keep a copy of all of mine and I assume other pastors do likewise. Pastor Beck is retired now but I can probably find his address for him if you would like to contact him.

Ralph: Yes, I think it would be worth a letter to see if he still has it. Now, of the 13 children, most of them still live or lived in this area and many of them were or are members of this church. What are your memories of them?

Pastor Thomas: Carl (right) was a “salt of the earth” person. A typical, German farmer and man. Not given to many words but when he did speak, you could tell that he had thought it through thoroughly.

Leo (left) was very quiet but he had a great sense of humor that often came out unexpectedly. He had a sly smile, not in the bad sense of the term, but a smile that was there just the same.

I used to have a lot of fun with your father, Art (right). He liked to joke and kid with your mother. I found that I could hand it right back to him and he would handle it well.

Les and Lila (left). I probably got to know them best of all. I was their pastor perhaps the longest too. They had friends from Florida that spent their summers in Alpena. On the way up to Alpena, Les and Lila would stop in and spend the night with us at our cottage. They took a special liking to our children.

Les always had that cute little dance step and was just full of fun. Our kids used to play lots of tricks on Les. We took him on his first canoe ride in 1979. We went down the AuSable River and he really enjoyed it.

I mentioned this in his funeral sermon. We were walking down the drive from our cottage and my son, Paul, was walking behind him. He had this long weed in his hand and he reached up with it and tickled Les’ ear several times. Pretty soon, Les swatted at it and said, “Damned fly!” under his breath and we all had a great laugh over it.

Ralph: How about Henry and Edna (Heiden) Berns?

Pastor Thomas: Oh, my. Again, Henry and Edna (right) were salt of the earth people. So devoted to each other! One could hardly live without the other. I can still see Henry lying on a piece of furniture they used to call a “fainting couch” and Edna was a very, very quiet person. Always so gracious. A person who enjoyed her family so much but was very reserved outside her family. Henry was fun-loving, always smiling.

Many of the women in the family seem to be quiet, reserved and shy but Lucille (Smith) Heiden is a little different. She is still so sharp for her advanced age. I really enjoy my visits with her, she has such an informed outlook on life. She still enjoys taking care of her grandchildren and always wants to see pictures of mine.

Ralph: William Frank "Jack" and Helen still live in the family home.

Pastor Thomas: Yes, and I have been to that house so many times over the years. Jack, I don’t know where he got that nickname, but he too has that sense of humor and I love to kid with him. Helen is very with it and really keeps up on what’s going on in the world.

Frankly, Ralph, now that I think of it, for as large as your family is, my relationship with them, as far as I know, has been very good over the years. Whenever there is a Heiden associated with a gathering, I always look forward to it. First of all because you know there is going to be fun and second, because I know them all so well. When I retire, those are some of the things I will really miss.

Ralph: Since they live away from the area, you might not have known Hilda and Charlie Fuller or Brick and Marie (Heiden) Tommelein as well as the others.

Pastor Thomas: Yes, I vaguely remember the Fullers. I saw them at family gatherings. I see Brick and Marie fairly frequently when they come down to roast beef dinners. Again, I feel very at ease talking to Marie.

Wilma, I know her fairly well. To me, Wilma is a very gracious lady and always so very friendly whenever I have seen her.

Ralph: Of course, there is Helma (Heiden) Nickel too. I am going to see her later this afternoon.

Pastor Thomas: Helma has always been something special. She has her roots deep in the ground and her faith in the Lord has helped her through the trials and tribulations of life. She would be a good person for anyone to pattern their lives after in her devotion to the Lord and how to live life.

Sister Helen is a straightforward person with a good sense of humor. She is the one person in the congregation who can tell me, “Don’t you think it’s time you got a haircut, Pastor?” and it would not bother me in the least. We kid each other and get along just fine.

Jeane is a fun-loving, up front type of person. I remember when we gathered at your grandfather’s place and played cards. Marianne Vogel might be there too. It would always be such fun. Jeane has always been supportive of the Church and she always was willing to try new things.

Overall, I guess I have just enjoyed my relationship with the Heidens. Their sense of humor and good-natured attitudes have been great to be around all these years. As I said, that will be one of the things I will miss when I retire.